Video: Truck driver rams brand new BMW police car during road chase

Black Country motorist caught after 19-mile pursuit from Dudley to Stourbridge

The police car damaged after it was rammed by a truck driven by Chad Harrison

A pick-up truck driver banned from the roads tried to stop police from nabbing him on the A449 near Stourbridge - by ramming their brand-new BMW X5 and speeding off.

But Chad Harrison, of Dudley Road, Kingswinford was caught as the high-spec police 4x4, which had just 400 miles on the clock, was in good enough condition to chase him for nearly 20 miles.

The 27-year-old was arrested by back-up officers, who helped pursuing drivers PCs Dal Nijjar and Gareth Phillips, after he crashed through the gates of Hunts Mill Nature Reserve off Coopers Bank Road, in Dudley, on April 18.

Audio from in-car cameras captured a tongue-in-cheek discussion between the motorway officers saying they hoped Harrison wouldn't shunt their precious motor, delivered just days earlier, as they prepared to pull him over.

But Harrison, who had stopped on a single-track lane next to the A road, did just that, causing significant damage.

West Midlands Police's force helicopter monitored Harrison's movements as he ran into woodland and they were able to direct officers on the ground to the spot he was lying low in bushes.

Harrison admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, failing to stop for police and damaging eight other vehicles during the pursuit.

And at Wolverhampton Crown Court on July 16 he was jailed for 19 months and handed a seven-year driving ban.

West Midlands Police Acting Sergeant Robert Leaver, of the Central Motorways Police Group (CMPG) said: "Harrison has an appalling record of driving going back many years. On this occasion his reckless driving in a large commercial vehicle caused near carnage and caused thousands of pounds worth of damage.

"He deliberately drove at a patrol car, injuring the officers, and then led police on a long pursuit during which he strayed onto the wrong side of carriageways and struck at least eight other vehicles.

"The truck was in a poor condition and several of the cars were damaged after being struck by one of the truck's stabiliser booms which protruded out from its side.

"The public need protecting from people who drive in this manner and put other road users in danger. He's rightly been jailed and should he be tempted to take to the roads at any stage over the next seven years he's likely to find himself back behind bars."

Harrison caused around £5,000 in damage to the X5 plus thousands more to the other vehicles he later struck.

Act Sgt Leaver, added: "The BMW patrol car had only been with the force for a matter of days before the incident we had some explaining to do when it was taken into our fleet mechanics for extensive repairs so early in its police service!"